The policy, approved by Archbishop John J. Myers and the Presbyteral Council in November, also mandates that obituaries not include the time, date or location of the funeral. The funeral also isn't allowed to take place in a church where the priest worked or lived, the report said

The archdiocese's goal is to keep the funerals out of the spotlight and avoid giving "more pain back to the community than they've already been through," spokesman Jim Goodness told the website. A letter to priests at the Newark Archdiocese's 961 churches also indicated the policy was implemented to protect the priests' families and avoid negative media coverage, according to the report

Victims rights groups assert that credibly accused religious figures should not have the status of a priest when they're laid to rest. One group, Road to Recovery Inc, is upset that priests removed from their posts can be buried in Mass vestments and that other priests are encouraged to attend, the report said.

The Archdiocese of Paterson told NorthJersey.com it doesn't have a policy about funerals for pedophile priests.